Vehicle turn signal switch



United States Patent O This invention relates to vehicle signal lights, and more specifically to asher actuated turn indicating vehicle' lights.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a foot operated electric switch for controlling an electric circuit having a plurality of indicating lights included therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a single pole double throw pedal switch for controlling a pair of vehicle electric circuits having a plurality of turn indicating lights connected therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch of the type described which may be directly connected to the turn indicating lights, or may be connected thereto through a flasher switch.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a foot operated switch of the type referred to supra, the switch being normally biased to its circuit breaking position and includes a pivoted switch arm adapted for selective engagement with either of a pair of xed contacts.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric switch which is non-complex in design, construction and assembly, which is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

In the drawing:

Figure l is an end elevation, partly in cross-section, of a single pole double throw electric switch constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the switch connected in the electric circuits of a plurality of turn indicating lights.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral designates, in general, a switch constructed in accordance with this invention. The switch 10 includes an elongated substantially U-shaped metallic channel member having a base 11 and a pair of spaced substantially parallel side members 12, 13 formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally therefrom in the same direction.

A pair of metallic brackets having arms 14 are welded at 15 to the base 11 adjacent each end thereof, respectively. Standards 16 extend laterally from the arms 14 in the same direction and are connected with a second pair of arms 17, respectively, which are spaced from and substantially parallel to the arms 14. Each of the arms 17 are provided with a centrally positioned transverse opening 18 which receives a threaded binding post 19 therethrough with portions of the posts 19 extending on each side of the arm 17. Washers 20 and 21 formed of a dielectric material insulate the binding posts 19 from the arms 17. The binding posts 19 are secured on their Patented Mar. 13, 1956 respective arms 17 by lock nuts 22, 23 disposed on opposite sides thereof.

Inwardly spaced from each of the brackets the base wall 11 is punched to form a pair of tabs 24 which project laterally therefrom in the same direction and form keepers for one end of a pair of helicoidal springs 25 fitted thereover.

On the other side of each of the brackets and outwardly spaced therefrom, the base wall 11 is provided with a pair of transverse apertures 26 which register with a pair of openings 27 which are formed in the floor board 28 of the vehicle (not shown). Stud bolts 29 pass through the apertures 26 and openings 27 and cooperate with nuts 30 to detachably connect the channel shaped member to the oor board.

An inverted substantially U-shaped elongated metallic channel member having a base wall 31 and depending arms 32, 33 are pivoted on pins 34 in side-by-side relationship with respect to the arms 12 and 13, respectively, substantially centrally of their respective ends.

A pair of spaced keepers 35 are punched or struck from the base wall 31 to receive thereover the other ends of the springs 25 which are held under compression between the base walls 11 and 31. The outer side of the base wall 31 has a rubber cover member 36 secured thereto.

One end of a Wire 37 (see Figures 2 and 3) is clamped to one of the binding posts 19 by the nut 38 and is passed through the opening 39 formed in the base wall l1 in punching one of the keepers 24, and also passes through an aperture 40, registering with the opening 39, and extending transversely through the tloor board 28. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the other end of the wire 37 is connected to one side of a conventional asher switch 41. The other side of the flasher switch 41 connects with one of a lead wire 42 and the other end thereof connects with a wire 43 having its opposite ends connected with one side of left front and rear turn indicating lights 44 and 45, respectively. The other sides of the lights 44, 45 are tied together by the wire 46, and the latter is connected through Wire 47 with one Side of the vehicle battery 48 having its other side grounded through wire 49 to the vehicle chassis at G2. Wire 50 grounds the stationary and pivotal channel members at G2.

A dashboard light 51 has one of its sides connected through lead 52 with the lead wire 42, the other side thereof being grounded through wire 53 to the ground G3.

Thus when the base wall 31 is pivoted downwardly to the left as viewed in Figure 2, an electrical circuit is established which may be traced from G1, wire 49, battery 48, wire 47, wire 46, one side of the lights 45, 44, the other side of the lights 45, 44, wire 43, lead wire 42, asher 41, wire 37, one of the fixed binding posts 19, the base wall 31, and through the wire 50 to the ground G2. The dashboard light 51 is energized through the electric circuit which includes the ground G2, wire 49, battery 48, wire 47, wire 46, the lights 45, 44, wire 43, wire 42, and one side of the light 51 having its other side grounded at G3 through wire 53. Upon release of foot pressure on the left side of the base wall 31 the spring 25 adjacent thereto biases the base wall upwardly to its normal position out of contact with the binding post 19.

One end of a wire 54 is connected with the other binding post 19 and extends through the opening 39 and aperture 40 for connection with one side of the asher 41, the other side of which connects through wire 55 with the line 56 which connects with one side of the front and rear turn indicating lights 57, 58, respectively. The other sides of the lights 57, 58 are tied together by wire 59 which connects through wires 60 and 47 with one side of the battery 48 grounded through wire 49 at Gi.

'The' dashboard; lightj 61 has-fone of its sides grounded at G3 through wire 62 and the other end thereof connects with wire 55 through thewire 63.

Thus, asthebasc walllv isspivoted downwardlyronthe right side thereof it engages the otherfbinding post` 19.v to establish a` circuit from@ G1, wire"l 49,. battery 48,

wires 4760 andSSt to-one= sideofl the.lights57, 58,1:

frompthemther,'side-othe. lights'57, 5S1through wires 56'` and 5,5y to;the-.1,asher 41froxn` the flasher; 4t throughY wire 54 to the other binding post 19, andthe; base;y wall Therdashboardlightl:iszenergizedat this time bythe circuit whichfincludesa, .wire 62, onezside ;of. the' light .61,

the otherside-,of the Vlight 4til-.to wire 63tofwiref56f, through. the lights-.57, 5S :andi wires 59, 6ft-and :47; to the :battery 48 `which Ais. groundedfthroughfwire 49 `at G2.

Upongrelease ofl the` foot pressure the other spring 25;- biases the base wall 31 upwardly breaking its Contact withf the-.adjacent bindinggpost:19.y and opensthe two last describedcircuits.

While theV Switch yof thisinvention is shown as:being- Having described. andillustrated one embodiment of' this invention in, detail, it .isto be ,understood that the sameisoiered ,merelyv by way, of example, andl that the invention is; to?. be limited only,v by the scope of;y the ap.-

pended claim.,

"ausg-assi f i' What is claimed is:

ing formed of a U-shaped sheet metal lower member, an inverted U-shaped sheet metal upper member partly telescoping over said lower member, means extending through the parallel sides of said members pivotally mounting said upper member on said lower'member, a pair of spacedapart tongues struck from said lower member and bent to extend perpendioularly. thereto, a secondpair of spacedapart tongues struck from said upperV member and bent to extend perpendicularly thereto, with said rst pair of tongues positionedgin confronting relation to saidsecond pair of tongues, a pair of coilsprings between said members constantly holding said upper member in normal parallel position relative to said lower member with said springs engaging over upper and lower confronting tongues, and a pair of vertically adjustable contacts carried by said 'lower member. confronting the opposite yends,

respectively, of.I said upper, member'whereby rockingj of; said upper member will close a circuit in which said.con,.

tacts are interposed.-

ReferencesCitedin the -le of 'thisfpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,803" Stone Nov. 241925 1,622,301; Wolford Mar. 29, ,19271 1,674,027 Van Deventer June'19,1928' 

